Locomotive-boiler furnace.



C. B. MOORE. LOCOMOTWE BOILER FURNACE. APPLICATION mm DEC. m".- um.

Patntgd May' 4, 1915.

WITNESSES: nwmmn CW3 17m LZA/Aze I ATTORNEKH' rrsri sr irss CHARLES B. MQORE, OF EVAN$TDN, ILLINOIQ; ASSIGNGR, BY ."BEESNE .lSSIGNMENEK T0 AMERICAN ARCH COMPANY, WATdE.

Application fileo fficcember is, 1911.

of the city of Evanston, Cook county, lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Boiler. Furnaces, of Whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in locomotive boiler furnaces and has particus lar reference to improvements in refractory baffles, deflecting walls or so-called arches ,for the fireboxes of locomotive boilers.

The general objects of my invention are to provide a. standard arch construction means of Which refractory arches may be easily installed in locomotive boiler fire boxes which vary in Width, and with the use'of a minimum number of brick forms of standard dimensions; which arch shall be of light weight and low cost; and which will materially enhance the comminsling end admixing of the firebox gases for the purpose of producing substantially perfect com bustion in the firebox.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arch structure or construction by means of which the arch proper may be located in the firebox at a. height suitable to the specific Tcondi'tions met with in the particular firebox in which the arch is being installed for producing the most economical results in fuel consumption, and by the use of tirebricks of standard dimensions.

Further features and objects of my invention will be developed hereinafter.

ll Iy invention consists in. an arch'construc tion which includes a minimum rturnber of patterns of reiractory arch brickeand brick abutments so i"crmed that the erbh proper can be .iirranged in many different positions it they filfilJOl'i; and furtheigiby means of on iehlarches can be installed in fireboxes of different widths extending from side to side therein without the necessity of hg'iving special bricks for each width of fireboxi Myinvention further consists in the various novel. features of construction/arid in the combinations and arrangements ,of parts hereinhfter fully described and particularly point "'d out in the appended claims. i;

lyly' invention will be more readily/genderstojod by reference to the accompanying dr ziwingsin which I have illustrated a prespecification. of Letters Eetent.

035 NEW YORK, N. 2., A CEIIRPOBA'ZIOEQ' 9F BELA- LOUOMOTJQVE-BOEIJEE FURNAGE.

latentedhli'e 4, filerial Ho. 566,349.

ferred form of my invention together with several modifications thereof.

in said drawings: Figure l is a central longitudinal section or a locomotive firebox containinga front 'ch made in accordance With my invention; :2 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the firebox showing a plan view of the arch and taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the firebox on the line of Fig. i; Fig. 4 is a. View similar to Fig. 2 showing a slight modification of the form of arch proper; Fig. 5 is a transverse Section of the firebox through the arch on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is o. transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. Al showing a slight modification of the abut ment members; Fig. '2' is a. perspective view of the abutment micniber used in the preferred form of my arch as illustrated in Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the abutment n'iei'nber illustratcdin Fig. 6.

My invention capable of embodiment in different structures occupying" various posi-- tions in the firebox and having difierent functions, and although I hate chosen to confine the illustration. of the invention to so-ca'llcd front arches it should at once he understood that my invention isnot thus limited.

Front arches in locomotive fireboxes have several functions, the main one being to provide a baiilein the path of theigases as they flow from the fuel bed to the fines and thereby retard their exit from the firebox. and

cause them to more evenly distribute their v heat throughout the entire inner surface of the firebox. A further important function is to effect the intermingling of the'various strata, of gases and so-cause more perfect combustion. These valuable functions to- "gether with others are preserved. in arches made in accordance Withiny invention. A front arch usually occupies an inclined position in the firebox with its forward end in close proximity to or in abutment with the fiue sheet, and it usually extends from side sheet to side sheet; it extends reerwsrdly from the flue sheet, and frequently as far as substantially the middle portion of the ire box so that the gases in passing around the rear end of the arch are forced to the rear portion of the firebox and consequently carry or distribute the heat to the rear end of the crown sheet, as well. as to the forward end thereof. I v

A locomotive boiler firebox, as illustrated consists of a flue sheet 2, side sheets 33, a crown sheet 4% and a rear sheet 5 and is pos tioned within the boiler shell 6. it is provided with a grate 7 at its lower end. Flues 8 lead forward from the flue sheet and the rear sheet contains a fuel door or opening The fireboa as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is equipped with two inclined Wa';@r-8lilllating tubes 10, the same extending from the lower portion of the flue sheet upwardly and rearwardly to the rear sheet and serving to increase the circulation of water between the front and rear water legs of the boiler. In the type of boiler illustrated, these tubes are arranged at a comparatively slight distance from the side sheets of the firebox.- In the different designs of: locomotives the fireboxes vary more or less in Width and for the purpose of installing arches in many difierent boilers it has been found necessary to carry an immense stock of firebricks of different dimensions and forms. ,This was proven to be expensive in that it required the carrying of large stocks of many forms of bricks at dili'ercnt points for the installation and the repairing of the arches.

The present invent-ion is directed to a form. of construction which is particularly adapted for building arches in firebox'es of different widths and by the use of but-two forms of bricks and the bricks are so formed that they interlock in many relatively different positions and in such a manner that the arch in any particular firebox can be readily placed in the position best adapted to produce the most economical results in fuel consunipti on.

is shown in the drawings, 1 make an adable arch by the use of two standard brick, one of which A is an arch and the other B is an abutment brick is formed to be supported in position against the side slice;- of the firebox and. its upper surface is fori'ncd in such a iuannerthat whcn the arch brick proper is placed in position thereon tiicir abutting sin-laces will be interlocked in such manner that the arch brick proper will be held laterally in the firebox and also o that the outer end of the fircbrick proper may be placed at several different distances from the side sheet and be retainco in said position. The arcli' u'opcr is made of a number of transverse rows of the bricks 13., each row being made of two of these bricks wl'iich rest upon the opposltcl y disposed abuixlicnt bricks and incline inwardly and upwardly therefrom, their inner and upper cnds ubutting together at subs stantiall y the jl lllOliIflS of brick proper brlck. The ubutment center line of the firebox and being formed to mutually interlock arid re, in each other in position, 'ihc abutment bricks B are pro- ,vided with grooves or sockets B adapted to againstthe side sheet 3 of the firebox and the brick is thereby retained securely in its desired position. The upper surface of the brick B is inclined upwardly and outwardly and is provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal ribs B separated by longitudinal grooves B and on account of the upper surface of the brick B being on an incline the ribs B are at difierent heights and at diil'erent distances from the side sheet. This brick B is substantially triangular in cross section the base of the triangle being set against the side sheet and the point of the triangle having the groove or socket B and resting upon the tube.

In the drawings 1 have shown the arch bricks A in the form of rectangular slabs and they are of such a length that when the outer ends of the bricks are placed upon the abutment bricks the inner ends of the bricks will abut substantially on the center line of the firebox and the bricks will be in up wardly inclined positions forming a V- 'shaped arch proper, supported by the abutment bricks. These bricks A. are each provided with a projection A upon their lower.

ends adapted to enter any one of the grooves B? and engage the corresponding projection B and thereby interlock the bricks A with the bricks l3 and retain the bricks A in their adjusted positions. It-will now be evident that the arch proper can be positioned with in the firebox at different heights, depending upon which of the grooves B are made use of; and, further, that it can be adjusted in width by the same method to accommodate itself to fireboxes of different widths and yet not vary greatly from the desired elevation of the arch proper.

In installing arches in fireboxes in ao cordance with my invention, 1 first place the abutment bricks B upon the tubes and filling the space between the tubes and the side sheets, and I then place a pair of the bricks A adjacent to the flue sheet and resting at their lower ends upon a companion pair of the abutment bricks. The tubes being inclined downwardly toward the flue sheet the two bricks A will be inclillicd forwardly toward the flue sheet and their abutting upper ends will be in contact with the flue sheet ornlay be spaced therefrom by means of the small spacingblock C which is placed be-' latter at the proper distance from the flue It is sometimes desirable to form the arch surfaces or gas icense,

sheet panion abutrhent bricks B until the arch is made of the desired length and height. The arch, as thus formed, comprises two inclined leaves or panels which rest at their outer edges upon the abutment bricks and rest against each. other at their inner edges and are each formed on a number of the bricks A. These inclined leaves provide the arch with inwjalrdly and-oppositely inclined gasd'eficcting" under surfaces which are adapted to deflect the gases rising from the fuel bed as they flow upward and cause them to intermir. and commingleand thereb enhance the complete combustion of the fue The inner ends ofthe bricks A are each provided with ahalf tongue A and a half groove A. The tongue on one brick is complementary to the groove onits opposite brick and they are adapted to mutually interlock the abutting pairs of bricks together at their inner ends and thereby-retain these bricks in position.

with subsidiary deflecting mising'poc'lrets and for this purpose I sometimes alternate the bricks A with thin cover bricks D, as illustrated in Fig. 4, these cover bricks being formed to space the bricks A apart longitudinally in the firebox and fill the spaces between them, and are provided with suitable supporting ledges and shoulders for this purpose. This formation of arch provides it with a transverse shallow groove or cavity which is adapted to aid in the admixture of the firebox gases.

My invention is also adapted for installation in fireboxes which are not provided with Water'circulating tubes and in Fig. 6 I have illustrated such an application of it. The abutment brick E therein shown is what might be termed a reversible brick. It has two inclined surfaces E either one of which ma 1 be made use of upon which to support the arch proper and each is provided with the longitudinal grooves B? and. the ribs. Bf and in order to support these bricks in their position upon the side sheets I provide suppoi-ting lugs 12 secured to the side sheets and adapted. to project into sockets or openings E provided in the outer surfaces E of these bricks. In the arch, as illustrated in Fig. 6, I have shown the arch proper as being made up of arch bricks F, similar to the bricks A; and cover bricks G, similar to the cover bricks I), thus clearly showing that arches to fulfill various conditions can be produced and can be arranged to accomplish the most economical results.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I do not limit or confine my 511- vention. to the specific structures herein shown and described.

Having thus fully described. my invention,

ihe arch is completed by adding further spans of the bricks A upon com I claim as new and desire to secure by Letferent heights, and a refractory arch'in said.

firebox composed of two transverse leaves interlocked at their inner edges and resting at their outer edges upon said abturnents, their outer edges being provided with complementary projections adapted to engage the different projections of the abutmeuts and thereby place the arch at difi'ercnt heights, substantiallv as described.

2. An adjustable arch for locomotive boiler fireboxes, comprising refractory abutmcnt members having a plurality of archengaging projections arranged at difierent heights upon their upper surfaces and supported ad acent each side of the firebox, and a ii-shaped arch proper each side thereof being provided on its loweredge with abutmerit-engaging projections, the upper edges or" the two sides being arranged in inter- J locking engagement at substantiallythe center line of the firebox, substantially as .described. An ad ustable arch for locomotive fireiboxes comprising refractory arch supporting abutm'ents and supports upon which said abutinents are carried adjacent to the side sheets of the firebox, said 'abutiuents having upwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces provided with longitudinally at ranged ribs forming arch-engaging projeo. tions', and a. V-shaped archproper spanning between opposite abutments and supported thereby, the arch comprising two inwardly inclined leaves, the lower edges thereof having longitudinal ribs adapted to engagcwith the arch supporting ribs on the abutments to hold the arch at difierent heights,'and the inner edges of said leaves beingf formed for mutual interlockment, substantially'as de-- scribed.

i. A refractory abutment brick for 11st;

with adjustable arches in locomotive fireboxes, composed of refractory material, pro:

senting a fiat back and having an upper stepped surface presenting several interlock. ing projections, substantiallyas described 5.. A locomotive boiler firebox, in combination with a refractory arch therein, comprising a plurality oftransverse rows of refractory members, each row consisting of two oppositely disposed abutment meinbers, means supporting said abutment members in'positionupon the side sheets of the firebox, and two oppositely inclined arcb'members having complementary interlocking grooves and tongues upon their inner ends and said arch members and abutment members having complementary longitudinally arranged tongues and grooves and so ill.- ranged that the lower ends of said arch members can be placed at different distances" apart upon said abutment members and held in such position, substantially as described.

6 A locomotive boiler firebox, in combi nation with an inclined front arch therein comprising refractory abutment members and means for supporting said members in oppositely disposed positions upon the'two side sheets of the firebox, said members having a plurality of longitudinally arranged arch-engaging ribs or projections and oppositely inclined arch bricks formed to abut and inirerlock at their inner ends, and abutment engaging projections at their lower ends adapted to engage one of the several longitudinal ribs of the'abutment members, and hold said arch'members in their adjusted positions, substantially as described.

'7. A locomotive boiler firebox and its side sheets, in combination with inclined arch tubes substantially parallel with said sheets,

refractory abutment bricks arranged between and supported by respective tubes and side sheets and presenting inwardly and downwardly inclined tops each having a plurality of projections at various heights, and refractory arch body bricks thereby ad justably secured upon the tops of said abutment bricks. v

8. A locomotive boiler firebox and its side sheets, in combination with inclined arch tubes substantially parallel with said sheets, refractory abutment bricks wedgingly arranged between and supported by respective l tubes and side sheets and resenting inwardly and downwardly inclined tops each having a plurality ofprojections at various heights, and refractory archcbody bricks thereby adjustably secured upon the tops of 

